Musical CD creation unit

ABSTRACT

A new Musical CD Creation Unit for providing both review and recording functions for the automated merchandising of music entertainment on recordable CDs. The inventive device includes a storage means, a selection means, and a production means. A CD jukebox of the kind commonly available and used in commercial markets provides is used to store musical selections. A computer terminal having a display monitor and input means, such as a computer keyboard or a touch screen allows a customer to review and create a musical selection to be reproduced on a recordable CD. Predetermined musical selections allow a customer to make selections based on music type, such as jazz, pop, rock, country, soul, gospel, or blues, popularity, such as “Top 20 Hits,” artist, or other options. To provide fully automated merchandising capabilities, the Musical CD Creation Unit has “vending” features including a purchase amount display, a magnetic card reader for credit cards, and a currency changer for cash such that a customer can purchase the recordable CD without assistance from store personnel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to CD selection and recording systems andmore particularly pertains to a new Customized Audio Selection andProduction Unit for providing both review and recording functions forthe automated merchandising of music entertainment on recordable CDs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of CD selection and recording systems is known in the prior art.More specifically, CD selection and recording systems heretofore devisedand utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected andobvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designsencompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for thefulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

Known prior art CD selection and recording systems include U.S. Pat. No.4,811,325; U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,171; U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,807; U.S. Pat.No. 4,672,480; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,338.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new MusicalCD Creation Unit. The inventive device includes a storage means, aselection means, and a production means.

In these respects, the Musical CD Creation Unit according to the presentinvention substantially departs from the conventional concepts anddesigns of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of providing both review andrecording functions for the automated merchandising of musicentertainment on recordable CDs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of CDselection and recording systems now present in the prior art, thepresent invention provides a new Musical CD Creation Unit constructionwherein the same can be utilized for providing both review and recordingfunctions for the automated merchandising of music entertainment onrecordable CDs.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new Musical CD CreationUnit apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the CDselection and recording systems mentioned heretofore and many novelfeatures that result in a new Musical CD Creation Unit which is notanticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of theprior art CD selection and recording systems, either alone or in anycombination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a storagemeans, a selection means, and a production means.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit apparatus and method which has many of theadvantages of the CD selection and recording systems mentionedheretofore and many novel features that result in a new Musical CDCreation Unit which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, oreven implied by any of the prior art CD selection and recording systems,either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new MusicalCD Creation Unit which may be easily and efficiently manufactured andmarketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new MusicalCD Creation Unit which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit which is susceptible of a low cost ofmanufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such Musical CD Creation Unit economicallyavailable to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit which provides in the apparatuses and methodsof the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneouslyovercoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit for providing both review and recordingfunctions for the automated merchandising of music entertainment onrecordable CDs.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new MusicalCD Creation Unit which includes a storage means, a selection means, anda production means.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit that provides for the option to record anydesired selection on a recordable CD for customer purchase.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit that fulfills the need for a review and recordCD jukebox having “vending” features and full automated merchandisingcapabilities for use in record stores as well as bars, lounges, nightclubs, pizza shops, or other recreational and entertainment venues.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit that permits a customer to review a musicselection for entertainment purposes as well as for on-location purchaseof the music without purchasing the entire CD.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit that would be fully automated and no morecomplex than a traditional jukebox to operate.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newMusical CD Creation Unit that would allow customers to explore andpreview music selections prior to purchase and substantially reduce theneed for sales employees for customer assistance.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a new Musical CD Creation Unitaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the display monitor used for makingmusical selections according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the payment means allowing for automatedcustomer purchase of a recordable CD created according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the CD dispenser according to the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through4 thereof, a new Musical CD Creation Unit embodying the principles andconcepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

More specifically, it will be noted that the Musical CD Creation Unit 10comprises a storage means 20, a selection means 30, and a productionmeans 40. The storage means 20 further comprises a CD jukebox 22 of thekind commonly available and used in commercial markets. As bestillustrated in FIG. 1, the selection means 30 further comprises acomputer terminal 32 having a display monitor 33 and input means, suchas a computer keyboard 34 or a touch screen. The selection means 30 isconnected to the storage means 20 and the production means 40 by a unitinterface cable 38. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the selection means30 further comprises a predetermined entry means 39 for allowing acustomer to review and record predetermined musical selections by type,such as jazz, pop, rock, country, soul, gospel, or blues, by popularity,such as “Top 20 Hits,” by artist, or by other predetermined musicalselections.

The production means 40 further comprises a CD recorder 42 for recordingon a recordable CD 2. After the desired selections are recorded on therecordable CD 2, the recordable CD 2 is dispensed from the productionmeans 40 by a CD dispenser 44, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. To providefully automated merchandising capabilities, the Musical CD Creation Unit10 has “vending” features. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the Musical CDCreation Unit 10 further comprises a payment means 50 having a purchaseamount display 56, a magnetic card reader 52 for credit cards, and acurrency changer 54 for cash such that a customer can purchase therecordable CD 2 without assistance from store personnel.

In use, a customer can sit in a personal cubicle 36 and review musicalselections played by the CD jukebox 22. To avoid disturbing others, acustomer can wear headphones 35. The customer uses a computer terminal32 to view and enter personal musical selections to be recorded on arecordable CD 2. Once a customer completes their personal musicalselections, the CD recorder 42 records the personal musical selectionson the recordable CD 2. The recordable CD 2 is dispensed from the CDdispenser 44. “Vending” features allow a customer to pay for the serviceby means of credit card with a magnetic card reader 52 or cash with acurrency changer 54. The cost of the service appears on a purchaseamount display 56.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A unit for creating acustomized digital audio product on a recordable digital medium,comprising: a storage means for storing a plurality of digital musicalselections; a selection means connected with said storage means forselectively reviewing said plurality of digital musical selections andselecting a user-selected musical compilation from said plurality ofdigital musical selections to be compiled into said customized digitalaudio product, said selection means including a plurality of preselectedmusical compilations each corresponding to a specific musical criterion,wherein said specific musical criterion comprises at least one of aselected musical artist, a selected musical type, and a selected musicalpopularity, said selection means including an audio output means forenabling a user to listen to a selected one of said plurality of digitalmusical selections; a production means connected with said selectionmeans and said storage means for reproducing at least one of saiduser-selected musical compilation and one of said plurality ofpreselected musical compilations on said recordable digital medium tocreate said customized digital audio product; and a payment means forpermitting on-site purchase of said customized digital audio product. 2.The unit of claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises a compact discjukebox.
 3. The unit of claim 1, wherein said selection means comprisesa computer terminal having a display monitor and an input means.
 4. Theunit of claim 3, wherein said input means comprises a computer keyboard.5. The unit of claim 3, wherein said input means comprises a computertouch screen.
 6. The unit of claim 1, wherein said production meanscomprises a compact disc recorder for reproducing said musicalcompilation on a recordable compact disc.
 7. The unit of claim 1,wherein said production means includes a dispenser for on-sitedispensing of said recordable digital medium from said production meansafter said customized digital audio product has been created.
 8. Theunit of claim 1, wherein said payment means includes a purchase amountdisplay.
 9. The unit of claim 1, wherein said payment means includes amagnetic card reader for credit cards.
 10. The unit of claim 1, whereinsaid payment means includes a currency changer for cash.
 11. A unit forcreating a customized digital audio product on a recordable compactdisc, comprising: a storage means for storing a plurality of digitalmusical selections; a selection means connected to said storage meansfor selectively reviewing said plurality of digital musical selectionsand selecting a user-selected musical compilation from said plurality ofdigital musical selections to be compiled into said customized digitalaudio product, wherein said selection means comprises an on-sitecomputer terminal including a display monitor and an input means, saidselection means including a plurality of preselected musicalcompilations corresponding to a specific musical criterion, wherein saidspecific musical criterion comprises at least one of a selected musicalartist, a selected musical type, and a selected musical popularity, saidselection means including an audio output means for enabling a user tolisten to a selected one of said plurality of digital musicalselections; a production means connected to said selection means andsaid storage means for reproducing at least one of said user-selectedmusical compilation and one of said plurality of preselected musicalcompilations on said recordable compact disc to create said customizeddigital audio product, wherein said production means comprises anon-site compact disc recorder for reproducing said musical compilationon said recordable compact disc; and a payment means for permittingon-site purchase of said customized digital audio product withoutassistance from store personnel, wherein said payment means includes atleast one of a magnetic card reader for credit cards and a currencychanger for cash.
 12. The unit of claim 11, wherein said input meanscomprises a computer keyboard.
 13. The unit of claim 11, wherein saidinput means comprises a computer touch screen.
 14. The unit of claim 11,wherein said audio output means comprises a pair of headphones.
 15. Theunit of claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises a library ofdigital musical selections.
 16. The unit of claim 1, wherein saidstorage means comprises at least one compact disk.
 17. The unit of claim11 wherein said storage means comprises a library of digital musicalselections.
 18. The unit of claim 11, wherein said storage meanscomprises at least one compact disk.